September 3, 2012

Rookie of the Year: Simeon Rice, 1996

Defensive End, Arizona Cardinals

Age: 22

College: Illinois

Height: 6’5” Weight: 265

Prelude:

Rice recorded 45 sacks in
four collegiate seasons and, considered the best pass rusher available in the
draft, he was taken with the third overall pick in the first round by the
Cardinals and their defense-minded new head coach, Vince Tobin. While he held
out into training camp, Rice still moved into the starting lineup.

Having tied the NFL record
for sacks by a rookie, Rice had a lesser performance in 1997 with five sacks,
but bounced back in ’98 as the Cardinals made it to the postseason and in 1999
he was selected to the Pro Bowl after accumulating a career-high 16.5 sacks. Unhappy
with his contract, he left Arizona
following the 2000 season and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As part of
a strong overall defense, Rice had his best years. Considered a one-dimensional
player with the Cardinals, he improved against the run with the Bucs while
reaching double digits in sacks in each of his first five years with the club.
He also was a consensus first-team All-Pro in 2002 and was selected to the Pro
Bowl in ’02 and ’03. A shoulder injury caused him to miss half of the 2006
season and he finished up with the Broncos and Colts in ’07. For his career, he
had 122 sacks and was selected to the Pro Bowl on three occasions.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in
the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).